Chicago Mayoral Race thread

[Balta1701]

Right, the national parties carry a lot of baggage with them. Stuff that absolutely shouldn't matter at a local level, like their stance on abortion or border control or national energy policy or foreign policy.

Abortion regulation is probably a more important local issue than a national one. Local areas are where things like parental notification laws, security for providers, etc., are decided. Energy policy is another one...some of the best areas in the country for renewable energy are areas covered by feed-in tariffs which are set locally. Gas blends and ethanol usage are set locally to control air pollution covering metropolitan areas.

[StrangeSox]

Abortion regulation is probably a more important local issue than a national one. Local areas are where things like parental notification laws, security for providers, etc., are decided. Energy policy is another one...some of the best areas in the country for renewable energy are areas covered by feed-in tariffs which are set locally. Gas blends and ethanol usage are set locally to control air pollution covering metropolitan areas.

 

 

Ok, replace it with their opinion on Roe v Wade or some other higher-level-than-what-we're-talking-about issue.

[southsider2k5]

Ok, replace it with their opinion on Roe v Wade or some other higher-level-than-what-we're-talking-about issue.

 

How many examples of relevancy do there need to be to tell that it is relevant?

[StrangeSox]

How many examples of relevancy do there need to be to tell that it is relevant?

 

More! I demand more!

 

I think I understand where both sides are coming from here, I think you both have legitimate points.

 

edit: I'd probably never vote for a Republican for any national office or probably even any state-wide office based on party stances. But does that trickle all the way down to local government in small to mid-sized cities and counties?

Edited January 18, 2011 by StrangeSox

[NorthSideSox72]

More! I demand more!

 

I think I understand where both sides are coming from here, I think you both have legitimate points.

 

edit: I'd probably never vote for a Republican for any national office or probably even any state-wide office based on party stances. But does that trickle all the way down to local government in small to mid-sized cities and counties?

I am actually more likely to vote for a Republican, the more local the job is. I tend to lean right on topics of the management of government, and lean left on social issues.

 

[Jenksismyhero]

I think if you're electing people like say judges, those "national" issues do have a local connection and could be very important. Knowing the judges I know, their policy beliefs dictate their view on the law every bit as a Supreme Court judge.

Edited January 18, 2011 by Jenksismybitch

[BigSqwert]

I think if you're electing people like say judges, those "national" issues do have a local connection and could be very important. Knowing the judges I know, their policies dictate their view on the law every bit as a Supreme Court judge.

 

Who the heck elects judges? No one knows a thing about them. You either vote them all back in or you ignore that part of the ballot. It's not like they have a party affiliation next to their name.

[Jenksismyhero]

Who the heck elects judges? No one knows a thing about them. You either vote them all back in or you ignore that part of the ballot. It's not like they have a party affiliation next to their name.

 

if you follow their decisions it's pretty easy to tell what party they fit into.

[BigSqwert]

if you follow their decisions it's pretty easy to tell what party they fit into.

 

I'd guess 1 out of 1000 people might.

 

EDIT: I bet if you asked 10 random people on the streets of Chicago who was running for mayor that none of them would guess all of the candidates correctly. You're telling me anyone will know all of the judges on the ballot?

Edited January 18, 2011 by BigSqwert

[Jenksismyhero]

I'd guess 1 out of 1000 people might.

 

EDIT: I bet if you asked 10 random people on the streets of Chicago who was running for mayor that none of them would guess all of the candidates correctly. You're telling me anyone will know all of the judges on the ballot?

 

True. Judges aren't a good example of this, but that's why you need the party identifier for alderman/council members. It's next to impossible to know every candidate, so if the illinois republican/democrat party endorses a guy then you know, generally, where they stand on issues.

[NorthSideSox72]

True. Judges aren't a good example of this, but that's why you need the party identifier for alderman/council members. It's next to impossible to know every candidate, so if the illinois republican/democrat party endorses a guy then you know, generally, where they stand on issues.

This irritates me - not your post, but this topic.

 

For any given person on any given election in Chicago, once every two years or so, maybe once a year at most... you have zero to 8 Constitutional offices and maybe zero to 10 local offices to vote for. Why is it so beyond people to spend a f***ing hour once a year to make an intelligent decision about who represents them in government?

 

I mean, I get that with judges and water commissioners, there is little or no info available. Fine, on those, use party or whatever.

 

But your alderman? State rep? State Senator? It is just so frustrating to me that 99% of voters know nothing about these people. You are GIVING away your freedoms and rights by not paying attention.

 

[BigSqwert]

This irritates me - not your post, but this topic.

 

For any given person on any given election in Chicago, once every two years or so, maybe once a year at most... you have zero to 8 Constitutional offices and maybe zero to 10 local offices to vote for. Why is it so beyond people to spend a f***ing hour once a year to make an intelligent decision about who represents them in government?

 

I mean, I get that with judges and water commissioners, there is little or no info available. Fine, on those, use party or whatever.

 

But your alderman? State rep? State Senator? It is just so frustrating to me that 99% of voters know nothing about these people. You are GIVING away your freedoms and rights by not paying attention.

 

[southsider2k5]

This irritates me - not your post, but this topic.

 

For any given person on any given election in Chicago, once every two years or so, maybe once a year at most... you have zero to 8 Constitutional offices and maybe zero to 10 local offices to vote for. Why is it so beyond people to spend a f***ing hour once a year to make an intelligent decision about who represents them in government?

 

I mean, I get that with judges and water commissioners, there is little or no info available. Fine, on those, use party or whatever.

 

But your alderman? State rep? State Senator? It is just so frustrating to me that 99% of voters know nothing about these people. You are GIVING away your freedoms and rights by not paying attention.

 

Yep. Agreed 100%. Yet everytime there is a public candidate forum, there are more candidates and staff than there are general public.

[NorthSideSox72]

Yep. Agreed 100%. Yet everytime there is a public candidate forum, there are more candidates and staff than there are general public.

And I'll admit I don't often attend things like that in person - I have occasionally though. But you better believe that for any office I intend to vote for, I do some research on the candidates, somehow, some way.

 

Now that I've moved to the burbs, I'll be getting involved in local government myself. Probably sit on a village commission or something to start with.

 

[BigSqwert]

^ Where'd you move to?

[NorthSideSox72]

^ Where'd you move to?

Northbrook. Sorry dude, had to leave Bucktown. Ran out of space in that condo with one kid (definitely wouldn't work with two), and when it comes time for schools, the city is a roll of the dice.

 

Now I have a garage, a yard, and a snowblower.

 

[bmags]

This irritates me - not your post, but this topic.

 

For any given person on any given election in Chicago, once every two years or so, maybe once a year at most... you have zero to 8 Constitutional offices and maybe zero to 10 local offices to vote for. Why is it so beyond people to spend a f***ing hour once a year to make an intelligent decision about who represents them in government?

 

I mean, I get that with judges and water commissioners, there is little or no info available. Fine, on those, use party or whatever.

 

But your alderman? State rep? State Senator? It is just so frustrating to me that 99% of voters know nothing about these people. You are GIVING away your freedoms and rights by not paying attention.

 

I'd add on something to this, we have too many offices that are voted in. Judges being the dumbest.

[BigSqwert]

I'd add on something to this, we have too many offices that are voted in. Judges being the dumbest.

No doubt.

[BigSqwert]

Chico receives the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police.

[NorthSideSox72]

Braun said today that by endorsing Emmanuel, Bill Clinton has betrayed African Americans and Hispanics.

 

Also, I thought it was interesting that in her debate talking points, she was the only candidate to specifically reject any new city taxes... but also refused to mention any cuts she'd make, and said that employee pensions were untouchable. Good luck with that combo.

 

[BigSqwert]

Braun said today that by endorsing Emmanuel, Bill Clinton has betrayed African Americans and Hispanics.

 

Also, I thought it was interesting that in her debate talking points, she was the only candidate to specifically reject any new city taxes... but also refused to mention any cuts she'd make, and said that employee pensions were untouchable. Good luck with that combo.

 

She couldn't be more vague in that debate.

[southsider2k5]

She couldn't be more vague in that debate.

 

So she is ready go back into Congress...

[BigSqwert]

Chicago No. 1 in road congestion

 

Luckily for us, none of the candidates have devoted more than 30 seconds on discussing public transit.

[NorthSideSox72]

Chicago No. 1 in road congestion

 

Luckily for us, none of the candidates have devoted more than 30 seconds on discussing public transit.

Yeah, I think Chicago USED to be good at getting out in front of mass transit infrastructure needs. But right now, with the fiscal mess the city (and state) is in, its hard to push for the solutions that will make a long term impact like spending money on mass transit infrastructure, instead of bloated city payrolls and other bulls***.

 

[BigSqwert]

WHOA!